BroadAmbition

Have you ever thought: “I’m fat.” “I’m old.” “I’m not enough.” I was young once. To all my friends from 40 years and up: Most of us are going through the next phase of our lives. We're at that age where we see wrinkles, gray hair, and extra pounds. We see the cute 25-year-olds and reminisce. But we were also 25, just as they will one day be our age. We aren't the "youth in their summer clothes" anymore. What they bring to the table with their youth and zest, we bring our wisdom and experience. We have raised families, run households, paid the bills, dealt with diseases, sadness, and everything else life has assigned us. Some of us have lost those that were nearest and dearest to us. We are survivors. We are warriors in the quiet. We are humans, like a classic car or a fine wine. Even if our bodies aren't what they once were, they carry our souls, our courage, and our strength. We shall all enter this chapter of our lives with humility, grace, and pride over everything we have been through, and we should never feel bad about getting older. It's a privilege that is denied to so many.” (Mums funeral tomorrow) Griff

Gourock. Me n MrsG back up here once again. This time for Mums funeral, arrangements etc. The weather? For me it’s like I’ve time warped back to the early Eighties onboard HMS Attacker in Greenock Great Harbour. Strong winds, heavy rain all day. Mind you it will improve tomorrow, we will still have the heavy rain all day but the strong winds will have increased to gales. Don’t you just love the west coast of Jockland? It’s like I never left 💕

WOW indeed Griff

All the best to one and all from all of us Griff

Waking up any day nowadays is a bonus It's who you wake up with is the interesting bit - or not ! Griff

Yep, I'm all over the place too. Have to keep checking phone to remind mysen what day it is. I should have stopped work on 21st but ended up finishing midday on 24th, 25 / 26 / 27 was actually off but since have been 'Persuaded' by the family to tile my Lads new house, got to go there today for the bathroom floor tiling that after a clay shoot this morning followed by a haircut accompanied by MrsG - Apparently I can't be trusted to get my hair cut on my own as it is always 'Wrong' so due to her being away not had a haircut since April - starting to look like Gandalf minus the beard. Still that's her fault to date. Tomorrow will be a family get together for a couple of hours walking in the countryside, about 14 of us and three dogs (Minus Macie sadly). Then it'll be admin / bookwork for me, tax return gotta be in for the 31st Jan, 02nd back to tiling my lads place before we go up to Jockland (Gourock) for ten days Griff

Ridiculously amazing Griff

Tomorrow the 27th will be our traditional Christmas shoot. A privilege for me to be in attendance once again, but such a sadness that Macie Dog no longer with me. Chin up Griff, onwards and upwards Griff

Christmas Day was just the best. Had MrsG all to myself til around 1130, then it was off to the Harvey Arms for just the chaps. Then daughters for 1300 onwards, Son / Daughter their partners, both grandchildren. This year for the first time we had both Grandchildren together on Christmas day. Me and MrsG eventually home for around 2100 Lads, you wanna earn huge brownie points? Get your Lady one of those Dyson Airwraps (Tad expensive - Recommend Boots). MrsG positively amazed at how effective / easy it is to use, she is well impressed. I got that one correct Griff

Nightmare time for you. I do hope there is a cat equivalent of ‘Rainbow Bridge’ Really understanding your hurt xx Griff

2019 - what a really bad year it has been for us. probably the worst to date in our 35 + years together. Too much 'Stuff' to list and too painful too, but never a pessimist - It's just the way it has been 2020 brings a new year and a new decade. Once we have got a funeral & house sale etc out of the way, come the spring - 'Things can only get better' I feel / hope that 2020 could be one of our best years in 35 + years - Ever the optimist --------------------------------------------------------------- 'My hopes and wishes for Christmas and the New Year' :-- To all forumites, their family / friends - All the best for Christmas but especially 2020 Griff

I got a phone call at 0200 this morning. MrsG's Mum passed away at 0150. She fought to the bitter end with her very last dying breath just would not let go, not what you would term 'Peaceful' Now at last she is out of pain and torment. This year for our family has been a really trying with one issue after another. I've been to four funerals, the last one particulary hard. So we should get MrsG home before Christmas day now, take a breath, shoulders back and start the new year, new decade off with yet another funeral, then sort out Mums house 270 miles away. Come the spring we should be on an upward curve at last. Onwards and upwards then Griff

Sssshhhhh, not too loudly now as my MrsG doesn't want her Mums death put on social ' m e d j a ' This ain't 'M e d j a ' (FB / Instagram / Tweeters etc ) its the hallowed NBN so in my book doesn't count. Besides she never looks in here BUT - after a phone call this morning MrsG tells me that Mum as of yesterday afternoon has lost the ability of speech. She has taken no food for 48 x Hrs and only water via a wet sponge. The doctor / Macmillan nurses - considering the amount of drugs that is being pumped into her can't quite believe she is still with us I desperately don't want Mum to pass away on Christmas Eve / Day / Boxing day as it will ruin every forth coming festive day for MrsG. It won't bother me much as us chaps tend to accept our parents passing away before we do as it is normal and natural whereas girlies never really get over their Mums leaving them. So - If Mum goes in the next three days there is a better than good chance that 2 x grandchildren, 2 x children, 1 x husband, numerous other family members, friends etc will get our MrsG back home for Christmas Day. Even if I have to drive up there to Gourock on Christmas day and bring her home. The downside is of course that I won't be onboard 'B.A' 28 - 30th as I had planned - Good! - Never thought I would say that! (But will still be game shooting on the 27th minus my beloved Macie dog) Griff

Can you enlighten me on this "certain sausage of sound proofing" you speak of? Would it be grey foam pipe insulation as found on household pipes to prevent freezing? Chuffin 'Eck - Now you are asking. The onboard 'Sausage Soundproofing' system is a unique system onboard 'BA' and no other craft that I am aware of. 'B.A' has wheelhouse sides that are of the 'Sash' window design That is to say they can be lifted / lowered on counterbalanced weights. When in the down position there is a 1:5 inch gap along their entire length. This was allowing engine room noise to escape into the wheelhouse and worryingly was a dead cert for crew members dropping all sorts of paraphernalia down the gap. So, we got some foam had it covered with the same material as the seats and nowadays whenever the wheelhouse sides are lowered the patented 'Sausage Sound Proofers' are jammed in place Hope that helps Griff

I'll have more somewhere but struggling to find them. I was years ago now when I was battling with this issue Griff

Diesel heating pumps - That 'Ticking' sound that drives you mad? Herewith the definitive and final solution. Honed after years and many attempts at sorting it. Hours of frustration. Hours of fabricating all sorts of items, hours of trying different locations. Learning the hard way - 'Do Method' and many many attempts before I finally cracked it. To such an extent that Mikuni uk were ringing me up to ask How I had sorted it. I'm the worlds leading expert onboard 'B.A' of sorting this issue out so easily and here's how:- The pumps are 12v operating on a relay type 'Pulse' system, that is to say on / off 12v diaphragm. My first failed attempt was to mount the pump onto a timber bulkhead close to the diesel tank via the small diameter copper pipe from the tank all the way to the burner unit. Operated fine but the ticking was horrendous, especially at night when turned in My second failed attempt was to mount a rubber bobbin on the bulkhead them mount the pump on the bobbin - Improvement but nowhere satisfactory My third failed attempt was to cover the pump with double thickness sound insulation that one would normally used under the deckboards over the engine space - Improvement but still a failure My fourth failed attempt was to re-site the pump - Here at last I really started to think about the whole thing and took a big leap forward to solving the problem. I realised that the harder the pump was working then the more noise it was likely to produce. So part of the solution was to make the pump have a really easy time of it. We all (Or should) know that these type of pumps can push far more effectively and easier than they can suck. So I re-sited the pump low down, making sure it was lower down than the height of its own pick up pipe in the main diesel tank. Obviously making sure the pump was rubber mounted. Once I had bled the system the syphonic action aided the pump as the diesel was effectively getting to the pump due to gravity and air pressure all of it's own accord. Now all the pump had to do was to push the diesel via its own pulse to the burner. A HUGE improvement but not perfect, therefore still a failure EUREKA ! The fifth attempt and at last Successful modification. I realised that the copper capillary pipe was transmitting the physical pulse and noise from the pump into the inside of the diesel tank and amplifying the sound, it was also sending the pulse and noise along the pipe the other way to the burner. So, borrow / buy one on those diy brake pipe flaring tools (Cheap as chips) cut out about 6" of the hard capillary pipe either side of the pump, flare the ends of the copper pipes (Bss requirement) fit two 6" lengths of dedicated rubber diesel pipe (With the CE markings clearly visible), use eight (Doubling up) s/steel jubilee clips. Robert is you Dads brother, Fanny is your Aunt. Silence is golden. Now onboard 'B.A' the ticking sound has ticked it's last. If I remove a certain sound proofing sausage and put my ear to the gap, turn everything off onboard at the dead of night and really strain, I can j u s t hear it and no more. Just putting rubber pipes either side of the pump will help but won't make it silent, you need to get the pump below the height of the pick up pipe in the tank and make life easy for the pump PLUS those rubber pipes PLUS rubber mount the pump It took me a fair few years and attempts to get it sorted but it was proper worth it. We have since changed our Mikuni for a Planar unit, bigger pump but still silent. I share with you all the above knowledge and make no charge other than to share a pint with you at a suitable riverside hostelry as and when. I will try and dig out some photo's later, Griff

Although I can't ever remember having a 6ft scalpel weighing in at around 25kg's on the Port deck ! Griff

Bang on identical it seems to the full size version Griff

A very good idea and works really well for Broad Ambition (eg.) though her running, maintenance and upgrade costs are a bit eye watering! Hmmm, but are they? split 5 x ways calms down the pain of open wallet surgery to a manageable level. There are five 'Shares' of 'B.A' but only 4 x owners. Me and Bro' shoulder the financial burden of that fifth share between us for no extra benefit whatsoever - That's just the way it is. Mind you if any suitable like minded woody lover out there wanted to purchase that share, it might be considered. Griff

And yes, I am mad!! Sometimes, just sometimes a statement is made that needs no debate or alternative viewpoints Griff

I most certainly hope it has done so Griff

Well done and congratulations. Aug next year for me, if I'm lucky enough Griff

Griff - did not Macie have pups a few year's back? Have any had their own pups or expecting any so you keep a bit of Macie? Macie did indeed, she would have been about three yrs old at the time. Therefore her Pups are now about 8 n half. Too old for pup bearing and if they have had litters, they are long gone. there is a Chap in Donny who needs a Cuddle with a girl who needs a cuddle in Scotland - Take a few days off I am sure your customers will understand under the circumstance They current clients would - However it would make a proper mess of future bookings / commitments I have. Those future booked clients are not related or friends, they have no idea of the current situation and nor should they, and it'll mess them about. Plus MrsG's Mum not in any sort of state to receive visitors, not even me. She was given the last rites yesterday. There is still a chance that me and MrsG may be reunited before Christmas. That all depends on when Mum tootles off. MrsG is also upset of course at losing Mace and not having seen her for ages Also you and the family need a Woofer in your life just as much as a Woofer needs to be in your family , you will know when the time is right Agreed - It'll probably be in the summer once we have agreed between us Griff

Ok, in hindsight I should have put our Macie topic on a separate thread. Here’s where we are. My daughter Nadine collected Macies ashes today and brought her home to me. (Myself and my Dale took her to the pet cremation service yesterday direct from the vets) It was heartbreaking to see / hear my Grandson asking for Macie (He’s just past two) Macie will stay here until sometime in the spring. Once we have got over the trauma of losing MrsG’s Mum, (still with us - just) house n effects sorted etc and have got Laureen back home for good The obvious venue for Macies ashes is ‘Our’ special place on Malthouse Broad where my Mum, Dad and Dusty dogs ashes are. Macie loved the boat and the Broads, to be more precise she just loved being anywhere her family was However she really loved ‘The Field’ So in the spring we will spread her ashes here, locally on what was her favourite game drive. ( I will be on that drive on 27th this month without her that’ll be particularly hard ) I have cried buckets over Macies passing, still doing so. I’m a ‘professional dog lover’ always have been I knew it would affect me this badly, same thing happened for our previous two Retrievers. It’s particularly hard this time as me n MrsG are estranged so we have no one to hug, she is in bits but trying to be strong for her Mum Macies bed, toys etc will stay right where they are now till she gets home New puppy? New crew member on the horizon? Can I put myself and family through this emotional roller coaster yet again? Have our hearts ripped apart for a forth time? Yes. But not until the summer 2020. We need time to get over Macie. We need MrsG home. Lots to sort out for this family between now and the summer Rescue dog perhaps? This is the most noble and proper choice. However fully trained gun dogs are not available from rescue centres Both me and Son need a gun dog,?a proper un. The family need a new member they can love and more importantly trust around Grand children. That means our forth Golden Retriever. That means absolute £1:2k minimum. That means 18 months intensive training again. That means full on cooperation from all of us. Then there is the boat training too. Until then I’ll remain incomplete a penance I will bear again. I’m heartbroken and it’s the price I owe her and must pay back All that remains is to thank you the forumites for your heart felt wishes I’ve received stacks of emails, txts etc more than a hundred from FB too Thank you Griff xx